The Creston Fire Department's largest annual fundraiser is the Creston Auction & Country Fair, held every spring in Creston Montana. This benefit for the all-volunteer fire department is the largest spring event in Montana and draws thousands of people from throughout the region and Canada annually. The 49th Annual Creston Auction & Country Fair and the accompanying RV, Marine, Auto, Farm & Equipment Sale will be held Saturday and Sunday, April 11 and April 12, 2015, in Creston, Montana located 12 miles east of Kalispell on MT Hwy 35.

Friday, April 10, 7am to 7pm, is Consignment Day. As a consignment-based event, Creston Fire Department only receives a percentage of the amount for which each item is sold. The remaining money goes to the person who brought the item to the auction, unless the consignor decides to donate the item and give the entire sale amount to the fire department. Commission rates are no more than 25%, with lower rates for higher-selling items. All commissions and proceeds go back to the community in the form of training and equipment for the fire department. All donations are tax deductible.

Saturday, April 11at 9amthe Opening Ceremony will be held that is immediately followed by kick off of the general merchandise auction. In addition to the auction, attendees can purchase locally made art and handicrafts, pick up smaller items in the rummage sale, and sample homemade goods from the bake sale. Hot food and beverages are available for purchase all day.

Sunday, April 12 at 12 noonthe Vehicle and Equipment sale begins.

There is no entrance fee for the auction. Bid tickets cost $5 on Saturday and $10 on Sunday. All bid ticket fees go directly toward paying for auction security for the weekend.

Creston Volunteer Fire Department has held an annual auction since 1965 as a fund raiser to cover apparatus, facilities, fire fighter equipment, medical equipment and supply expenses that District funding does not cover.

Where do I take my consignment items for Creston Fire Department's Auction?

A.

Follow Montana Highway 35 to Creston (between Bigfork and Kalispell).
Once in Creston, follow auction signs. Auction grounds are on the north side of highway behind the Creston School. You will be directed to the appropriate area where volunteers will quickly unload, tag, and display your items. The clerk will list consignment items you bring and you will sign confirming the list is complete.

What consignment items can I bring to be sold in the Saturday auction?

A.

Consigned new and used items for Saturday’s sale include: Furniture (indoor and outdoor), building materials, lawn and garden equipment, fencing, household items, antiques, guns, coins, paintings, tack, tools, sports equipment and more. Items such as some smaller antiques, guns, coins, glassware and paintings will be taken to and sold in the Secure Tent area. The Sheriff’s office will run a security check on all guns brought to the Secure Tent for auction.

Yes, local organizations are encouraged to use this venue as a fundraiser for their group. Collect items at your school, church, or fire department, and bring as ONE load to the sale on Consignment Day. We'll send the proceeds, minus the fire department's commission, to your organization.

Saturday's Auction will be held April 11, 2015. Grounds will open at 7am, bid ticket sales begin at 8am, the opening ceremony will be held at 9am and the
Auction will begin immediately after the opening ceremony and continue until all items are sold. There will be acres of items for sale!

If you have clothing or household articles that you are donating to the sale or things that will sell for $5.00 or less, please take them on Friday, April 10, anytime between 7am and 7pm to the Creston school gym where they will be placed in the Rummage Sale as a 100% donation to Creston Fire. There will be donation slips available for you to use on your 2015 tax return.

You can bring all kinds of breads, rolls and desserts to the Bake Sale including cookies, cupcakes, cakes, and pies. However, please do not bring cream pies or any refrigerated items. Also,it is preferred that items be made WITHOUT nuts. All baked items must be clearly labeled and must be clearly marked if there are NUTS or NO NUTS. Baked items should be brought in disposable or give-away containers and wrapped completely with saran/cellophane.

I have some arts and craft items that I would like to sell. What do I need to do to get a space so I can sell these items?

A.

Call the auction hotline at 406-250-7396 to rent a space for selling your arts and crafts. Space is very limited. The fee is $25 for an 8’ x 8’ space. You will need to bring your own case or table to display your arts and crafts. The space does not include electricity.

Items such as some smaller antiques, guns, coins, glassware and paintings will be taken to and sold in the "Collectibles" area. Auction of Collectible's items will be held during Saturday's auction beginning at approximately Noon.

If I have the winning bid on items sold from Collectibles, when and where can I pick up those items?

A.

If you are the winning bidder for Collectible's items, you should pay for those items at the cashier's window. Return to Collectibles, present your paid receipt to Collectible's personnel and they will give you your item(s).

When I have the winning bid on an item at the Saturday Sale, what should I do with that item(s)?

A.

As soon as you have the winning bid on an item(s), you should immediately take those items to the fenced, secure holding area which is near the west entrance to the school grounds. EACH BIDDER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SECURITY OF ALL ITEMS THEY PURCHASE! The Secure holding area, which is near the west entrance, is manned and items cannot be taken from the Secure holding area until a paid receipt is provided. You have until one hour after the Saturday sale is done to pay for and pick up your items in the Secure holding area. Creston Fire is not responsible if items are damaged or broken in the secure area. ALL ITEMS ARE SOLD “AS IS, and WHERE IS” WITH NO FURTHER GUARANTEE!

What do I do if I buy a large item in the Saturday sale that is too heavy to move?

A.

Entry by vehicle to the auction grounds will be allowed after the Sale sale is over until it is dark. If a large, heavy item cannot be picked up before dark on Saturday, it must be picked up no later than 12 noon on Sunday. There will be overnight security provided on the auction grounds.

How and when do I need to pick up and take home my consigned items that did not sell in the Saturday auction?

A.

If you have a consigned item that did NOT sell in Saturday's sale, you can take that item(s) to the secure holding area. Then go to the Information window in the Cashier's trailer where the Information Officer will confirm your lot number, confirm the "no sale" of your item and will give you the "no sale" receipt that you must show security when you take the unsold item through the gates and off the auction grounds. You will have until 12 NOON SUNDAY to remove your items that didn't sell in Saturday's auction. All items left on the auction grounds AFTER 12 noon on Sunday will become the property of Creston Fire Department.

I have a vehicle and some on-road equipment that has a license plate and would like to put them in the Sunday Sale. How does this work?

A.

Bring your vehicle, trailer, RV, boat, tractor, etc. to the sale grounds on Friday, April 10th between 7AM and 7PM. Follow the signs on Highway 35 and you will be directed to the appropriate area for the Sunday Sale. Bring your keys AND the lien free and clear title. The title MUST BE IN YOUR NAME! There will be a notary public available on site to record your signature on the title. If there are two names on the title, both people must sign the title in front of a notary. If titles are not available on sale day or if the lienholder does not provide a written statement, the item(s) will be taken out of the sale. Usually all items in the Sunday sale will be sold. However, we will contact you on Sunday if your titled item DOES NOT sell so you can make arrangements to pick it up.

If my items from the Sunday Sale are not sold, when do I have to have them removed from the grounds?

A.

Unless you make specific arrangements, all equipment that does not sell must be removed by 6 PM Sunday, April 12. If you are not at the Sunday auction, we will call you if your titled item(s) or item with reserve on it DID NOT sell. Items that ARE NOT SOLD will be determined to have no value and will become the property of Creston Fire Department.

What dollar reserves can I put on my consigned items for the Sunday Sale?

A.

For the Sunday Sale, a minimum dollar reserve amount can only be put on items valued at $1,500 or more. If you wish to place a minimum reserve price on your item that is valued and sells for between $1,500 and $3,000, there is a $50 non-refundable reserve fee paid to Creston Fire Department. If the item is valued and sells for more than $3,000, there is a $75 non-refundable reserve fee paid to Creston Fire Department. The consigner will pay the full consignment rate if they buy back their consignment item.

Yes. There will be a variety of hot and cold food items as well as non-alcoholic beverages, including water, that may be purchased at both the Saturday and Sunday auctions. There are also baked goods available for purchase Saturday in the Creston School Gym.

• ALL ITEMS ARE SOLD “AS IS, WHERE IS” WITH NO FURTHER GUARANTEE!
• Pay for your items at the Cashier’s windows.
• You may pay by cash, check (with proper identification), and Visa or MasterCard credit cards for Auction sales only. When a credit card is used for payment, a 3% convenience fee will be added to the purchase total.
• Out of state checks must be accompanied by a bank letter of credit, unless prior credit has been approved by Creston Fire Department.
• Also for buyer’s convenience, there will be an ATM machine available on the auction grounds.
• Full payment of all auction items must be made on the day of each Auction, without exception!
• The Creston Auction is acting as a sales agent ONLY. We MUST PAY all sellers. Therefore you MUST PAY FOR ALL ITEMS you successfully bid on, even if you change your mind or lose the items!
• NO items can be removed from the grounds without a PAID RECEIPT.
• A Secure holding area is provided where you may take your items BEFORE AND AFTER YOU HAVE PAID FOR THEM until they are removed from the grounds.
• All unpaid accounts will be turned over to a collection agency.
• All items purchased must be removed from the Auction grounds by 12 noon on the Sunday after the sale.
• Upon registration to bid, Buyer agrees to the terms and conditions of this sale.

How much are bid tickets and why do I have to pay for a bid ticket for both Saturday and Sunday auctions?

A.

Saturday Bid tickets are $5 each and Sunday bid tickets are $10 each. Bid ticket proceeds are used by the Creston Fire Department to pay for auction security. When a bid ticket is purchased, the buyer agrees to the terms and conditions of this sale. Sunday sale consignors will receive a voucher for a FREE Sunday sale bid ticket.